Interactive eating utensils and containers that can produce sound and mechanical output

Abstract

A set of interactive eating utensils includes a first eating utensil, such as a spoon or other piece of cutlery, and a container for containing food. The spoon or other cutlery piece has an embedded magnet that produces a magnetic field. The container is electrically operable and includes an induction coil that is electrically operatively connected to a speaker for producing sound upon the interaction of the magnetic field of the magnet and an electromagnetic field of the induction coil generated upon passing of an electric current through the coil. The container has a moveable portion that moves in response to a predetermined set of conditions, such as failure of the induction coil magnetic field to interact with first eating utensil magnetic field for a predetermined period of time.

1. A set of eating utensils comprising:
 a first eating utensil and a container having an opening leading to a portion adapted to contain food, an upper rim surrounding the opening; 
 said first eating utensil comprises a magnetic member that produces a magnetic field; 
 an induction coil located adjacent to the opening surrounded by the upper rim such that an electromagnetic field is created at the opening leading to the food containing portion, the induction coil operatively connected to a first output device, movement into or out of the container by the first eating utensil producing a first output from the first output device upon the interaction of said magnetic field of said magnetic member with the electromagnetic field of said induction coil located adjacent said opening, as said magnetic member passing through said opening generates an electric current through said induction coil. 
 
   
   
     2. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is in the general shape of an animal. 
   
   
     3. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 1 , wherein said first output device comprises a speaker. 
   
   
     4. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 3 , wherein said speaker is adapted to output sounds of an animal. 
   
   
     5. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 1 , wherein said induction coil is electrically connected to said first output device via an integrated circuit. 
   
   
     6. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second output device electrically connected to said induction coil, said second output device producing a second output when said magnetic field produced by said magnetic member has not interacted with said electromagnetic field of said induction coil for a predetermined period of time, said induction coil electrically connected to said second output device via an integrated circuit. 
   
   
     7. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 6 , wherein said second output device comprises a motor, said second output being the activation of said motor. 
   
   
     8. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 7 , wherein an output spindle of said motor is mounted with a load. 
   
   
     9. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 8 , wherein said container comprises a head portion and a body portion, and said motor is positioned within said head portion. 
   
   
     10. A set of eating utensils according to  claim 9 , wherein said head portion is movable by said motor relative to said body portion, said second output being the movement of the head portion.